JEREMY CORBYN today faces angry demands to condemn vile Labour supporters who left a full-size coffin outside a female Tory MPs office. Totnes MP Sarah Wollaston said it was shocking that a party that lost the murdered Jo Cox would condone such “crass” behaviour. The local Labour party encouraged its members to join a protest […]

And in a direct attack on Mr Corbyn, Ms Wollaston said: “My message to Labour, who were part of Saturday’s march and encouraged people to join it, since sadly this does not appear to be obvious, is that you cannot preach about ‘gentler politics’ and allow someone to leave a coffin at my door.”

Labour MPs also slammed the activists who left the coffin. Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw angrily told party activists: “Next time, go canvassing.”

Ms Wollaston received support from across the political spectrum after her ordeal.

Jeremy Corbyn is under pressure to condemn the threatsPA

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Ben Bradshaw, Labour MP for the nearby seat of Exeter, wrote on Twitter: “Memo to any @UKLabour members at this event: @sarahwollaston fights tirelessly for NHS and Social Care as @CommonsHealth chair.”

Theresa May ordered an inquiry into the abuse suffered by politicians after dozens of MPs and candidates reported a torrent of vile threats during the General Election campaign.

Mr Corbyn has been accused of not doing enough to crack down on threatening tactics used by hard-left trolls.

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THERESA May’s EU compromise is “not ideal”, according to Iain Duncan Smith but the key Brexiteer claims Brussels has budged too and it opens door to the UK getting a trade deal. The former Tory leader gave a cautious welcome to the agreement the Prime Minister signed with Jean-Claude Juncker on Friday, saying “I’m not […]

But one of the key anti-EU Tory backbenchers is supportive of the deal, which should allow the other EU leaders to agree “sufficient progress” has been made to move on to trade and transition talks at Thursday’s crunch summit.

Mr Duncan Smith, writing in the Telegraph, said: “The draft agreement reached by Theresa May does not make me jubilant, but nor do I feel betrayed.

“The EU has budged on several crucial points, and the way is now open to discuss a proper free-trade agreement that the British people voted for.”

It comes as Mrs May prepares to update MPs on the progress of the talks, where he is set to take an upbeat stance on securing a Brexit dealPA

He attacked the draft agreement released last Monday, which was scuppered by the DUP, saying it was “left open the possibility that Northern Ireland might have a separate position to the rest of the UK, which was unacceptable”.

He also said on “regulatory alignment” it left open the possibility the EU would try to exploit its “vague language to keep us inside the single market and customs union in all but name”.

The ex-Cabinet Minister said the new wording helped correct this, but added: “Most importantly, though, all this can be torn up tomorrow, because ‘nothing is agreed until everything is agreed’.”

And trying to calm those who are unhappy with the deal, he went on: “Some Leavers are crying betrayal and believe they have been sold out. I think that is incorrect.”

Speaking in the Commons on the proposed first phase text Mrs May is expected to say ‘this is not about a hard or a soft Brexit’PA

He added: “While this agreement is not ideal, it doesn’t stop us from taking tough lines where we need to.

“It simply gets us through the first round, and I believe it has left us in a better position than we were last Monday, for it has opened the door to a deal.”

Speaking in the Commons on the proposed first phase text Mrs May is expected to say: “This is not about a hard or a soft Brexit.

“The arrangements we have agreed to reach the second phase of the talks are entirely consistent with the principles and objectives that I set out in my speeches in Florence and at Lancaster House.”

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And she will tell MPs: “There is, I believe, a new sense of optimism now in the talks and I fully hope and expect that we will confirm the arrangements I have set out today in the European Council later this week.

“In doing so we can move on to building the bold new economic and security relationships that can underpin the new deep and special partnership we all want to see.

“A partnership between the European Union and a sovereign United Kingdom that has taken control of its borders, money and laws once again.

A partnership that is in the best interests of the whole United Kingdom. And a partnership which can deliver prosperity and security for all our people, for generations to come.”

Conservative Cabinet split over whether Damian Green should be sacked as First Minister of State over porn probe

AN extraordinary Cabinet split opened up over whether Damian Green should keep his job as First Minister of State. Education Secretary Justine Greening all-but called for him to be sacked if the Cabinet Office inquiry into his behaviour concludes it was his porn that was found on one of his parliamentary office computers. But Health […]

Tory MP who left wife for colleague facing probe over claims he bullied his staff

A LOVE rat Tory MP who left his wife for a fellow politician is facing a party investigation over claims he ‘bullied’ his staff. Jack Lopresti, 48, is to be probed after a formal complaint from a former member of staff over angry outbursts and appalling treatment. An ex-office manager – understood to be Jo […]

A LOVE rat Tory MP who left his wife for a fellow politician is facing a party investigation over claims he ‘bullied’ his staff.

Jack Lopresti, 48, is to be probed after a formal complaint from a former member of staff over angry outbursts and appalling treatment.

Lopresti, it was reported by the BBC, has driven several staff to resignDarren Fletcher - The Sun

An ex-office manager – understood to be Jo Kinsey – said she resigned over the behaviour of the MP for Filton and Bradley Stoke.

Lopresti hit The Sun front page in 2015 after cheating on his wife Lucy with fellow MP Andrea Jenkyns, who he is now engaged to and they have a child together.

The complainant said Lopresti treated her “appallingly and thoughtlessly” after she went back to work following a death in the family.

She said he asked her to explain why she should not be sacked over performance issues immediately on her return.

Lopresti hit the headlines in 2015 when he shacked up with fellow MP Andrea JenkynsSWNS:South West News Service

The office worker complained: “I could not believe it. I was devastated, just crushed.”

She resigned as his constituency office manager in March and has now reported her concerns to the Conservative Party’s new code of conduct hotline.

At first she sought help from the whip’s office in Parliament and her local Conservative Party chairman but claims nothing was done.

She said he “failed to treat others with the respect he felt entitled to” and that she and others “often trod on eggshells in fear of an angry outburst”.

Lopresti’s ex-office manager said they was treated “appallingly and thoughtlessly”SWNS:South West News Service

The BBC yesterday reported that several people have left Lopresti’s office in recent years because of his ‘angry outbursts and poor people management’.

One source said it was “humiliating to be treated this way by him”, and a former staff member said they “had had enough” and resigned.

“It’s a culture in his office; no-one can be honest with him because of his temper,” they added.
However, two former staff members said they had had a good relationship with Lopresti and he was a good employer.

Lopresti, seen posing by the Severn Bridge, represents Filton and Bradley Stoke near BristolRefer to Source - Free

A spokesman for the MP said: “Mr Lopresti’s staff matters have been dealt with in conjunction with the Houses of Parliament HR authorities, and, as such, Mr Lopresti will not be commenting.”

The House of Commons said MPs employed staff members, and its ability to intervene was limited but support was available.